The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[RagTopTA]

At the flea today and a buddy was trying to sell me an older box I was picking stuff out of. its rusty and crusty but the crackle finish and the top small take-out tray are there. And the locking bar... but I can not make out the logo to save my life. I can see its little guy with a toolbox on the left.... anyone have any idea what kinda box this is? He offered it to me for $15. Still has it.

 

[Smokeshow69]

At the flea today and a buddy was trying to sell me an older box I was picking stuff out of. its rusty and crusty but the crackle finish and the top small take-out tray are there. And the locking bar... but I can not make out the logo to save my life. I can see its little guy with a toolbox on the left.... anyone have any idea what kinda box this is? He offered it to me for $15. Still has it.

That would be a Kennedy logo. Don’t see many of the top chests


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[compunaut]

At the flea today and a buddy was trying to sell me an older box I was picking stuff out of. its rusty and crusty but the crackle finish and the top small take-out tray are there. And the locking bar... but I can not make out the logo to save my life. I can see its little guy with a toolbox on the left.... anyone have any idea what kinda box this is? He offered it to me for $15. Still has it.

Isn't that the logo for Kennedy Kits?

 

[RagTopTA]

That would be a Kennedy logo. Don’t see many of the top chests


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Isn't that the logo for Kennedy Kits?

Oh cool I couldn't make it out.. very solid but sure needs some loving. might pick it up for $15....

 

[d42jeep]

At the flea today and a buddy was trying to sell me an older box I was picking stuff out of. its rusty and crusty but the crackle finish and the top small take-out tray are there. And the locking bar... but I can not make out the logo to save my life. I can see its little guy with a toolbox on the left.... anyone have any idea what kinda box this is? He offered it to me for $15. Still has it.

Here is an ad from 1939. That one looks to maybe be earlier. I added a picture of an early logo.
-Don

 

[RagTopTA]

Here is an ad from 1939. That one looks to maybe be earlier. I added a picture of an early logo.
-Don

Awesome! I'm thinking I should pick it up!! thanks Don!

 

[Outlawmws]

It's definitely Kennedy. I don't believe the tray goes with it, but it's sort of a cool size tray.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Good idea on the security bar with the drop front panel missing.

 

[drivesitfar]

RAG: for $15 i'd have to buy it too and I probably have more carry toolboxes than most. great looking hand carry tray that I'm also thinking isn't original to that box, but would make for a great one to use in the shop to carry from bench to bench or take outside.

 

[LNKMK8]

LNKMK8 , this is great! Never saw one like this. And given the price - YOU ****!

Are there handles on the sides?

Yes, there is a large "top chest" style handle on each end.

 

[dkroth]

It's definitely Kennedy. I don't believe the tray goes with it, but it's sort of a cool size tray.

It may not be original but given how old that red paint is they've been together a long time.

For $15 your need to have it.





.

 

[Spanner]

Just dug this out of my old mans shed, it’s from the 1950s and it’s in rough shape but will give me something to do in the evenings for a few weeks


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[Farmer J.]

Nice one, Spanner. J.

 

[Outlawmws]

That looks nice without any work!

 

[Spanner]

That looks nice without any work!

Cheers, it needs tidying up some of the joints are loose and it’s a box that was well traveled and not very well looked after


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[Smokeshow69]

Got my proto top chest #9997 all cleaned and buffed and waxed ! Had to run a clay bar over it and I also lined it with cork. Got the lower Waterloo made, 74’ dated jl700 model also cleaned withe the same love! I will be transitioning into using this box so I wanted it dialed! The Waterloo is by far my nicest original paint vintage chest! The proto dates to mid 60’s and is the later of the 2 top chests I have. The Waterloo is so nice I did not buff it because I wanted it to match the proto as much as possible!



The Waterloo has sprayed in adhesive in the drawers with that horrible perforated drawer liner I had to remove! Did lots off goof off on a rag and it worked like a charm! Side by side comparison of the 2 small drawers




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[Smokeshow69]

This is a shot of how clean the Waterloo was! I would like to find a mid chest for it some day





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[Rileysan]

This is a shot of how clean the Waterloo was! I would like to find a mid chest for it some day





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There's a Waterloo 3d middle chest on FB Marketplace right now. It's not easy to spot but you know my skill ...

 

[Smokeshow69]

There's a Waterloo 3d middle chest on FB Marketplace right now. It's not easy to spot but you know my skill ...

Cough, cough, send linkage please ! As for your skill, we are well acquainted [emoji23]


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[Shiftless]

For anybody interested in a Kennedy 2 drawer machinist chest, I just listed a nice one over in the classifieds. More pics over there.
50 bucks

This is a TC-14, right?
Any experts here care to put an approximate date of manufacture on it? That’s a hard plastic handle.
Thanks!

 

[ZRX61]

For anybody interested in a Kennedy 2 drawer machinist chest, I just listed a nice one over in the classifieds. More pics over there.
50 bucks

This is a TC-14, right?
Any experts here care to put an approximate date of manufacture on it? That’s a hard plastic handle.
Thanks!

Very similar to one I have. I use mine for electrical connectors, zip ties, mini pliers & crimpers etc.

 

[wrenchguy]

neat older 1.

 

[leg17]

neat older 1.

Very Cool.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a nice coffin box

 

[wrenchguy]

That's a nice coffin box

Thanks 4 posting, i never thought of calling it "coffin" box. Doyou think it was a shop project or manufactured for retail? Do you have any info about it?

 

[Motorman55]

Not much of a tool box per say. I've got three of them for free at my local recycle center the other day along with a bunch of tools.

I'm curious as to what its for? Anybody know?

 

[BFBOB]

I just glommed onto my first Kennedy box, a 520 missing the front cover and handle, for $25. Thanks to this thread I've got a couple of good pix of the handle, but haven't been able to find anything very close. Anyone know a source for them? Per Outlaw's comments, I think it's an older one - 50's. It does have the older Kennedy-Kits logo, just barely still legible. No, I haven't tried contacting Kennedy yet - that would be too obvious!

In the foreground, new front cover under construction. Not enough sheetmetal tools to bend one up, so I had to settle for plywood and aluminum channel.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks 4 posting, i never thought of calling it "coffin" box. Doyou think it was a shop project or manufactured for retail? Do you have any info about it?

That's a manufactured box. Popular in like 1920. Very nice one. You could put anything in there. Just a nice old toolbox.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a more typical example

 

[leg17]

Not much of a tool box per say. I've got three of them for free at my local recycle center the other day along with a bunch of tools.

I'm curious as to what its for? Anybody know?

Brings to mind a tool kit supplied with an imported machine tool, such as a lathe or machining center. Have no idea about the TOM.

 

[Outlawmws]

MM does the Tom box have any guides for anything? Tray? Tool?

 

[Motorman55]

MM does the Rom box have any guides for anything? Tray? Tool?

No nothing. All the boxes were filled with misc. junk, old Champion marine spark plugs, etc.

They remind me of older solder iron/torch case or inexpensive Japanese socket sets cases.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I am going to be starting on a restoration of this 50’s craftsman lower roller. What have you guys been using to strip all the paint off ? I have thought about using a brush on stripping like jasco but I worry about painting afterwards? You guys using a wire wheel and brush or other methods. Most media blasters want over $200 to blast it.

I do need a badge if someone has one ?

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[thehorse13]

I am going to be starting on a restoration of this 50’s craftsman lower roller. What have you guys been using to strip all the paint off ? I have thought about using a brush on stripping like jasco but I worry about painting afterwards? You guys using a wire wheel and brush or other methods. Most media blasters want over $200 to blast it.

I do need a badge if someone has one ?

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I've used Jasco dozens of times without issue. Just be sure you prep the metal properly after using chemical stripper of any kind. I would stay away from spreading stripper on there and then hitting it with a wire wheel. Unexpected calamities surely will result.

Get yourself a good metal scraper, a bucket of rags, rubber gloves and add liquid stripper and elbow grease. You're in for a nice pile of work though. For motivation, have a look at my Alemite service bench that was stripped with Jasco.

 

[GrayFlattop]

I am going to be starting on a restoration of this 50’s craftsman lower roller. What have you guys been using to strip all the paint off ? I have thought about using a brush on stripping like jasco but I worry about painting afterwards? You guys using a wire wheel and brush or other methods. Most media blasters want over $200 to blast it.

I do need a badge if someone has one ?

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I have had variable results using chemical strippers - not a fan. They burn the skin (always manage to get into the glove or on your face, then they have to be neutralized then you get flash rust...

If someone can recommend a good product, I'm all ears, but..

Typically I end up using a woven surface conditioning disc and take it back to bare metal. That said, for those projects, the tool boxes restored were not "vintage" but were simply beat to sh!t, tired tool boxes.

My only advise is that you should always start with the finest "grit" available that removes the paint. The coarser discs can remove a bit of metal or impart grind marks. But this too leaves a mess - just a different type of mess.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I generally have good luck with paint strippers. You do want to prevent the stuff from dripping down inside the cabinet or getting into seams where it will be difficult to completely remove - some judicious masking in those areas would be a good idea.


Some people like the environmentally safer soy-based strippers, but I've had more success with the nasty chemical stuff - Zip Strip or aircraft stripper. You do need to wear gloves and eye protection when using them.


The two biggest things about using stripper is to 1) glob it on and spend a minimal amount of time spreading it with a brush, the more you work it the less effective it will be, and 2) be patient and let it do its stuff before trying to scrape it off. Also, in very hot weather it can be useful to cover it up with a piece of plastic (like Saran Wrap) to prevent it from drying out too soon, but in most cases it will be ready to remove before that happens.

 

[Mr_P]

Not much of a tool box per say. I've got three of them for free at my local recycle center the other day along with a bunch of tools.

I'm curious as to what its for? Anybody know?

Looks like it would make a nice lunch box for someone named TOM.

 

[ZRX61]

I am going to be starting on a restoration of this 50’s craftsman lower roller. What have you guys been using to strip all the paint off ? I have thought about using a brush on stripping like jasco but I worry about painting afterwards? You guys using a wire wheel and brush or other methods. Most media blasters want over $200 to blast it.

I do need a badge if someone has one ?

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On a box that old it will probably just wipe off with a rag & some lacquer thinner (NOT paint thinner).

 

[Visey]

I just got this Snap-On top box (my first one!) at the flea market for $20 and I am trying to figure out what the model is. It appears to be covered in a dark red flaking housepaint, which is coming off easily. Underneath there is a silver layer which might have been the original. I hit the whole back of the box with no identifiers found. Any suggestions?

 

[Shelbylex]

Hi, Visey
Look for a stamp. This is KR-56. I have a similar model from 1955.
Look at the left side of the box, left lower bottom corner. There is a stamp there. Make a picture.

Congratulations!

This model was my first SO chest!